Violent crime in South Africa happens mostly in a few hotspots, says criminologist

Crime researchers use murder (or homicide) rate per 100,000 as a crude measure of the general level of violent interpersonal crime globally. According to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, South Africa's murder rate of 45 per 100,000 (2023/24) is the second highest fo … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Timing matters: Early planting benefits soybean in unfertilized, low-fertility fields

Unfertilized soybean fields with lower soil fertility should be planted earlier than high fertility fields, according to a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study that re-evaluates longtime soil testing. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

How citizen science is shaping international conservation

Citizen science is a powerful tool for involving more people in research. By influencing policy, it is transforming conservation at global, national and local levels. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Cyanobacteria diversity challenges 'one-size-fits-all' algal bloom solutions

When populations of tiny aquatic organisms called cyanobacteria (formerly known as blue-green algae) explode, their toxic overgrowth can threaten human drinking water and cause wildlife deaths in events known as harmful algal blooms (HABs). In freshwater environments such as lake … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Customized living materials: Genetic tweaks enable precise control

Rice University researchers have revealed novel sequence-structure-property relationships for customizing engineered living materials (ELMs), enabling more precise control over their structure and how they respond to deformation forces like stretching or compression. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Why Democrats are switching off the news: A psychologist explains

Many Democrats appear to be switching off mainstream news channels and other media, following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Possible fire ant connection explored in study on eye disease in pets

A new study from the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at Hebrew University has brought new insights into Florida spot keratopathy (FSK), an eye condition that affects both dogs and cats. Led by Dr. Oren Pe'er and published in Veterinary Ophthalmology, the research analyzed 100 … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

History shows how a trade war can become a violent conflict

In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump imposing a 10% levy against China and pressing a 30-day pause on proposed tariffs to Canada and Mexico, Martin Danahay is reflecting on the dangerous historical outcomes of past trade wars. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Lightning strikes link weather on Earth and weather in space

There are trillions of charged particles—protons and electrons, the basic building blocks of matter—whizzing around above your head at any given time. These high-energy particles, which can travel at close to the speed of light, typically remain thousands of kilometers away from … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Fooling yourself: People unknowingly cheat on tasks to feel smarter, healthier

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool myself, and I may end up feeling smarter, according to a new study led by Sara Dommer, assistant professor of marketing at Penn State. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Who are immigrants to the US, where do they come from and where do they live?

Undocumented immigration is a key issue in American politics, but it can be hard to nail down the basic facts about who these immigrants are, where they live and how their numbers have changed in the past few decades. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

AI and scientists unite to decipher old scrolls charred by the Vesuvius volcano

Scientists hope a mix of artificial intelligence and human expertise will help decipher ancient scrolls carbonized by a volcanic eruption 2,000 years ago. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Trump wants Greenland—but here's what the people of Greenland want

In 2018, a colleague and I, together with a team of Greenlandic research assistants, conducted one of the most comprehensive surveys to date on public opinion in Greenland. We traveled to 13 randomly selected towns and settlements across the island nation, conducting in-person in … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

How to reproduce with two fathers and no biological mother

At the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing, held in March 2023 at the Francis Crick Institute in London, Japanese researcher Katsuhiko Hayashi stunned attendees when he explained how he had successfully reproduced mice from two male parents. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Pet flea treatments may be harming wildlife—but owners can help

Toxic substances used in flea and tick treatments pet owners give to their dogs and cats have been detected in birds' nests, according to new UK research published in Science of The Total Environment. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

How to outwit gambling adverts by 'inoculating' people against them

In a world awash with enticing promises of quick riches and thrilling wins, gambling advertisements have practically become inescapable. These meticulously crafted promotions aim to tap into the hearts and minds of consumers, persuading them to gamble—whether that means starting … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

By studying neutron 'starquakes,' scientists hope to transform their understanding of nuclear matter

The study of 'starquakes' (like earthquakes, but in stars) promises to give us important new insights into the properties of neutron stars (the collapsed remnants of massive stars), according to new research led by the University of Bath in the UK. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Male flies sharpen their eyesight to call females' bluff: Study suggests ongoing evolution

With bloated bellies and hairy legs, female flies try to look bigger to get food from courting mates. But male flies, in turn, have sharpened their eyesight to call their bluff. A new study by researchers from the Universities of Gothenburg and Stockholm suggests that this is an … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Researchers uncover 1D-like spin behavior in a triangular molecular lattice, challenging traditional views

Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are fascinating and mysterious states of matter that have intrigued scientists for decades. First proposed by Nobel laureate Philip Anderson in the 1970s, these materials break the conventional rules of magnetism by never settling into a stable magneti … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Study explores compound's potential to enhance THC for pain treatment

University of Mississippi researchers have discovered how a compound found in cannabis might be used to mitigate the negative effects of THC, a psychoactive compound in the plant. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

To keep your cool in a heat wave, it may help to water your trees

Heat waves are among the world's deadliest weather hazards. Every year, vast numbers of people are killed by heat stress and it can worsen health problems such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

A material used to clean household aquariums offers a simple solution to break down forever chemicals

A University of Missouri researcher has discovered a new method to remove so-called "forever chemicals" from our drinking water. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

AI-powered analysis uncovers marine herbivores' impact on eelgrass disease spread

Eelgrass, a type of flowering seagrass found in temperate zones around the world, provides habitat for many species, protects coastlines, improves water quality, sequesters carbon and supports fishing economies. The foundation of a highly productive marine food web, eelgrass's he … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Opinion: USAID shutdown isn't just a humanitarian issue—it's a threat to American interests

The website for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the world's biggest aid donor, has gone dark. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

How AI imagery could be used to develop fake archaeology

Generative AI is often seen as the epitome of our times, and sometimes even as futuristic. We can use it to invent new art or technology, analyze emerging data, or simulate people, places and things. But interestingly, it is also having an impact on how we view the past. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Climate-affected produce is here to stay. Here's what it takes for consumers to embrace it

The economic cost of food waste in Australia is staggering. It's estimated $36.6 billion is lost to the economy every year. Much of our fresh produce never even makes it to stores, rejected at the farm gate due to cosmetic reasons, such as its appearance, size or ripeness. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Best in nose: Border collies outperform hunting breeds in olfactory task study

A new comprehensive study by Hungarian ethologists provides valuable insights into the factors that affect the olfactory performance of dogs. Border collies, a herding breed, reached higher success levels than some hunting breeds, like golden retrievers, Hungarian and German vizs … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Antibiotic resistance can spread unpredictably into the environment, living on mineral surfaces

Imagine one of Denmark's many picturesque beaches, the waves lapping against the shore, the golden sand and the smooth pebbles. That sounds like a beautiful moment in time. But under the surface, there is more to the story. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

International team captures direct high-definition image of the 'cosmic web'

Matter in intergalactic space is distributed in a vast network of interconnected filamentary structures, collectively referred to as the cosmic web. With hundreds of hours of observations, an international team of researchers has now obtained an unprecedented high-definition imag … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Centuries-old vitamin D decline in Scotland defies modern lifestyle changes

People living in Scotland 400 hundred years apart have been shown to suffer similar seasonal declines over winter in their vitamin D levels despite the enormous changes in lifestyle and diet over the intervening period. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Promising new class of high-temperature superconductors achieves stability at room pressure

Researchers have made a significant step in the study of a new class of high-temperature superconductors: creating superconductors that work at room pressure. That advance lays the groundwork for deeper exploration of these materials, bringing us closer to real-world applications … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Automated polymer design tool integrates machine learning and molecular simulations

A research group has developed SPACIER, an advanced polymer material design tool that integrates machine learning with molecular simulations. As a proof of concept, the group successfully synthesized new optical polymers that exceed the empirical limits of refractive index and Ab … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Active agent against cancer metastasis discovered: Adhibin prevents migration and attachment to other cells

Every cell in the body normally has its fixed place as part of a tissue structure. Except for a few cell types, such as blood or immune cells. But cancer cells also cross established boundaries, grow into the surrounding tissue and multiply. And they can detach from the cell stru … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Study reveals how RNA travels between cells to control genes across generations

RNA-based medicines are one of the most promising ways to fight human disease, as demonstrated by the recent successes of RNA vaccines and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) therapies. But while health care providers can now successfully develop drugs that use dsRNA to accurately target … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

The leaky pipeline and financial cost of science society memberships

A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences has collated and analyzed the financial cost of scientific society subscriptions. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Biophysics research illuminates the beginnings of animal development

Most animals, including humans, have bilateral symmetry, which means our bodies are pretty symmetrical. At least on the outside. On the inside, things are different. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Cretaceous fossil from Antarctica reveals earliest modern bird

Sixty-six million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous Period, an asteroid impact near the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico triggered the extinction of all known non-bird dinosaurs. But for the early ancestors of today's waterfowl, surviving that mass extinction event was like…wate … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Quantum algorithm distributed across multiple processors for the first time—paving the way to quantum supercomputers

In a milestone that brings quantum computing tangibly closer to large-scale practical use, scientists at Oxford University Physics have demonstrated the first instance of distributed quantum computing. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Missing link in Indo-European languages' history found

Where lies the origin of the Indo-European language family? Ron Pinhasi and his team in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Vienna contribute a new piece to this puzzle in collaboration with David Reich's ancient DNA laboratory at Harvard University. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Rare, almost mythical Australian tree kangaroos can finally be studied, thanks to new tech

Bennett's tree kangaroos, one of Australia's most mysterious marsupials, have long eluded researchers. Our new study, published in Australian Mammalogy today, has achieved a breakthrough: using thermal drones to detect these rare animals with unprecedented efficiency. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Kids use different math skills at work vs. school, India study shows

In India, many kids who work in retail markets have good math skills. They can quickly perform a range of calculations to complete transactions. But as a new study shows, these kids often perform much worse on the same kinds of problems as they are taught in the classroom. This h … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Physicists measure a key aspect of superconductivity in 'magic-angle' graphene

Superconducting materials are similar to the carpool lane in a congested interstate. Like commuters who ride together, electrons that pair up can bypass the regular traffic, moving through the material with zero friction. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Why antibiotics can fail even against non-resistant bacteria

Antibiotics are indispensable for treating bacterial infections. But why are they sometimes ineffective, even when the bacteria are not resistant? In their latest study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the University of Basel challenge the conventional view that … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Rethinking AI in higher education: How a professor is using AI to foster critical thinking in the humanities

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into higher education, questions arise about its role in fostering critical thinking and inquiry—especially in the humanities. How can open-access generative AI tools enhance students' curiosity while promoting critical q … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Veterinarian warns cat owners about H5N1 risks amid rising cases

Veterinary and public health officials are urging cat owners to remain vigilant as cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, have been detected in domestic cats. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Study finds school bans alone not enough to tackle negative impacts of phone and social media use

Students attending schools that ban the use of phones throughout the school day aren't necessarily experiencing better mental health and well-being, as the first worldwide study of its kind has found that just banning smartphones is not enough to tackle their negative impacts. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

Compact camera can identify objects at the speed of light

Collaboration can be a beautiful thing, especially when people work together to create something new. Take, for example, a longstanding collaboration between Arka Majumdar, a University of Washington (UW) professor of electrical and computer engineering and physics, and Felix Hei … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago

A wedding necklace and Polish dumplings will be part of a mission to the International Space Station

What do a wedding necklace, Polish savory dumplings and a photo of Hungary's first astronaut have in common? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 days ago